Newark, NJ- April 1, 2010 - Mayor Cory A. Booker, the Newark Municipal Council, and Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement Margarita Muñiz reminded Newark residents today to support the City’s efforts to “Get Out the Count” in Newark by cooperating with federal Census 2010 takers, who will soon be going door to door to ensure an accurate count of Newark’s population.

Today is Census Day in the United States, the deadline for residents to mail in or return the Census 2010 forms that were mailed to them. The Census will follow up to achieve their Constitutional mandate to accurately determine the population of the United States by sending Census takers door to door throughout the nation, to present their Census questionnaires, including here in Newark.

“Newark, like many municipalities throughout the state, is facing challenging economic times,” Mayor Booker said. “The stimulus money and federal aid our City receives to support our schools, infrastructures and overall city programs are based on our population count. It is imperative for our transformation as the state’s largest city that the count is accurate. I urge all of Newark’s residents to stand up and be counted. When the Census workers arrive at your home, give them they information they need, so that the City of Newark gets the resources we all need.”

Census data is used by state and local agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and members of the general public to design public safety strategies, make informed decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local and state governments each year. The Census also determines the proportions for districting the House of Representatives, and how many seats individual states get.

The 2010 Census has one of the shortest census questionnaires in history, dating back to the nation’s first census in 1790. The Census Bureau will mail or deliver more than 130 million questionnaires to households in the United States. All personal information will be kept confidential.

“We want residents to know that the 2010 Census is important, it’s easy, and it’s safe,” says Raul Vicente, Jr., Senior Media Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. “By law, responses to the questionnaire can not be shared with any other agency or person, and this will be the shortest questionnaire ever.”

Measures to spread the word about the 2010 Census include hiring local residents for a variety of temporary positions, ranging from field census takers to support positions in administration, recruiting, and technology fields. All Census Bureau employees, including the census workers who collect the address information and GPS coordinates, have taken a lifetime oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, a fine - or both - for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household.

Persons interested in these temporary positions can find out more at the Census Bureau’s web page atwww.census.gov or can schedule an employment test by phoning(866) 861-2010.

Additional information, fact sheets, and multimedia, are available on the Census Bureau’s online newsroom. Go to http://www.census.gov/2010

Residents with questions about any City of Newark program or policy can contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at(973) 733-4311.

Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

New York, 31 March 2010. The Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY) launches its second decade, April 16-23, with a program of award-winning films, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with noted international filmmakers, actors and producers. Special events are scheduled for April 7th at El Museo del Barrio and April 9th at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Over 40 highly anticipated and influential films from and about Latin America, the Caribbean and Latinos in the U.S. will be screened.A variety of genres and themes from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, U.S. and Uruguay, ranging from comedy, thrillers, drama, film noir and children's tales, as well as films and documentaries about the influence of music and dance are all part of this year's Festival.On April 16th, HFFNY opens with the New York premiere of the Brazilian film, Veronica, 1 pm at the Quad Cinema, the Festival's primary screening venue. The Opening Night Ceremony and Screening takes place at the New York Directors Guild Theatre, 110 West 57th Street, at 7 pm with the New York premiere of Los Dioses Rotos, the box office sensation and award-winning film by Cuban director Ernesto Daranas. Actress Silvia Aguila will present the film.Since its inception, HFFNY has recognized and celebrated some of the most illustrious Latin American filmmakers in the industry. Continuing this tradition, HFFNY 2010 honors renowned Cuban writer, director, poet, actor and dramatist Enrique Pineda Barnet, who has given the public more than 4 decades of unforgettable cinema. HFFNY pays him tribute with screenings of Cosmorama, considered the precursor to the contemporary video art movement, and today is part of the permanent collection at the Centro Reina Sofia de España (Queen Sofia of Spain Center); La Bella de la Alhambra, Best Picture winner of the prestigious Goya award; and La Anunciación, his most recent film about the reunion of state-side Cubans and their families.

Brought you by Vejatv.comAs the festival enters its second decade, HFFNY established the Havana Star Prize to recognize the work of outstanding filmmakers in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. The first Havana Star prizes will be awarded at the Closing Night Ceremony on April 23rd at 7 pm at the New York Directors Guild Theatre. Internationally renowned Cuban artist, Yoan Capote, designed the Havana Star Prize especially for HFFNY.The recipients will be chosen by three prominent members of the film industry, producers Michael Hausman (Gangs of New York, Brokeback Mountain, The People vs. Larry Flynt), and Sandy Lieberson (The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus, Stardust) and director Louis Perego (President of National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) NY Chapter, owner of Skyline Features, a bilingual (English and Spanish) multimedia and educational production company.The fifteen films competing for the first Havana Star Prize are:Los Dioses Rotos (Broken Gods) - a love triangle within the modern day Cuban underworld recalls the life of famous politician and pimp Alberto Yarini. Director Ernesto Daranas, CubaDawson Isla 10 (Dawson Island) - the harrowing ordeal of deposed President Allende's cabinet after the 1973 coup who are determined to survive political imprisonment. Director Miguel Littin, ChileLa Pasión de Gabriel (Gabriel's Passion) - a young priest, caught in the middle of a civil war he doesn't understand, struggles with his love for the church and a young lady. Director Luis Alberto Restrepo, ColombiaHermafrodita - a touching story about a young girl's struggle in the 60's to keep her dual sexuality a secret. Director Albert Xavier, Dominican RepublicLa Bodega (The Warehouse) - a young man and his best friend seek to avenge his sister's brutal assault. Director Ray Figueroa, GuatemalaHuacho - a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, ChileLa Tigra, Chaco - a sweet and touching story of a young man who, while visiting his father, finds love with an old childhood friend. Directors Federico Godfrid and Juan Sasiaín, ArgentinaMemories of Overdevelopment - the long-awaited sequel to Tomás Gutierrez Alea's classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo (Memories of Underdevelopment). Director Miguel Coyula, CubaMiente (Lie) - an edgy, visually stunning psychological thriller told through the eyes of a young artist. Director Rafi Mercado, Puerto RicoCastro - based on a Samuel Beckett novel, a woman searches for her wayward husband with the help of three hapless men. Director Alejo Moguillansky, ArgentinaVeronica - the story of an elementary school teacher who while escorting one of her students home, discovers his slain parents and they are forced to go on the run to try to save themselves. Director Mauricio Farias, BrazilEl Premio Flaco (The "Booby" Prize) - a comedy about how to laugh at despair when a woman is lifted out of poverty after winning a lottery. Directors Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti, CubaCrónicas Chilangas (Chilango Chronicles) - the intersecting lives of three people in Mexico City - an honest retired teacher, a young man who believes in extraterrestrials and a woman addicted to porn. Director Carlos Enderle, MexicoLibertador Morales, El Justiciero - an honest motorcycle-taxi driver and law-abiding citizen, Libertador Morales becomes El Justiciero, an avenging hero who foils the crime spree of a local Caracas street gang. Director Efterpi Charalambidis, VenezuelaHistorias Extraordinarias (Extraordinary Stories) - a visually stunning and award-winning film that weaves together three separate and seemingly unconnected stories. Director Mariano Llinas, ArgentinaFREE AND SPECIAL EVENTSOne of HFFNY's main goals is to reinforce the educational component and accessibility of the Festival. Running parallel to the screenings, HFFNY 2010 continues to collaborate with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, El Museo del Barrio, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Queens Museum of Art, and NYU's King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, Cantor Center, and Tisch School of the Arts to bring free or low cost screenings, panels, and programs for all ages integrating different communities in celebration of Latin American and Latino cultures.To kick off the Festival, HFFNY collaborates with two major museums to present several events:April 7th, Nuevo Cine at El Museo del Barrio with the NY premiere of the Colombian documentary, Desterrados about the mounting tension of the more than one million Afro-Colombians violently displaced since the 1990's, and El Play, a documentary about a small city in the Dominican Republic famous for producing some the world's best baseball players. Pablo Medina, El Play's director, will be present for Q&A. On April 9th at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, we will have the U.S. premiere of 20 Años, a Cuban animation film, and the world premiere of Homo Erectus, a comedy about a young man coming out to his macho dad. Homo Erectus' director Alejandro Lora and producer Alberto Gonzalez will be on hand for a Q&A session followed by a party with DJ Asho and a live performance by Pepito Gomez and his sextet (Traditional, Son and Timba) celebrating the music of Cuba.On April 17th at 4:30 pm, the Queens Museum of Art will present Fantasma de Buenos Aires, the latest full-length feature produced by Fundación Universidad del Cine (Argentina), a well-crafted story of a 20th century ghost awakened by accident in 2009 Buenos Aires. On April 20th, at 6 pm, the Festival presents Teaserland, an entertaining program of fake movie trailers by well-known directors such as Isabel Coixet (Elegy, The Secret Life of Words), Jaume Balaguero (Rec), and J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage), and other up-and-coming filmmakers. This program is sponsored by TD Bank.The Festival returns to world-renowned The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday, April 17th, 12:35 pm, with the series Latin American Films For Children. This year, HFFNY offers children aged 5 to 12 four shorts from Colombia, El Salvador and Spain. These screenings are offered in collaboration with the Museum's El Primer Contacto con el Arte program.For the first time, HFFNY has partnered with the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce to proudly celebrate Mexico's Bicentennial of Independence and Centennial of its Revolution on April 20th at Quad Cinema, 6:15 pm with the presentation of Crafts, Humors and Short Stories of the Mexican Independence and Revolution, a collection of 26 ninety second film shorts made by five of the best known Mexican animation directors.Continuing to serve the filmmaking industry and film aficionados, HFFNY has organized the panel, The Business of Filmmaking: LATIN AMERICA-U.S., the legal and business aspects of motion picture development, finance, production, and distribution at NYU'S King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center on Tuesday, April 20th, 7 pm. Key industry figures will discuss the director, distributor and lawyer perspectives: Alfredo Calvino, Maria Marta Antin, Fernando Ramirez and Jeff Levy-Hinte and moderated by Sandy Lieberson, Chairman of Film London. This free event is made possible with the support of NALIP, Mexicana Airlines, and LART.Some highlights of this year's festival are the films about music and dance. Giselle, a beautiful ballet film by this year's honoree, Enrique Pineda Barnet, celebrates the 90th birthday of Cuba's prima ballerina, the great Alicia Alonso. The Extraordinary Journey of Fernando Bujones by Israel Rodriguez is about the life of the choreographer and dancer who died at the prime of his career. Mundo Alas is a documentary about a group of disabled artists who tour Argentina accompanied by Argentina's most important folk rock singer/songwriter Leon Gieco, who will be on hand for a Q&A session after the film.In its world premiere, Mambo City by Bette Wanderman, gives a personal account of soulful Puerto Rican singer Awilda and the band, Grupo Latin Vibe. Além Da Luz by Ivy Goulart is an intimate look at the lives of six blind Brazilians and their struggles, dreams and desires. Cooking Up Dreams by Ernesto Cabellos is a journey to the kitchens of Peru's coast, highlands and jungle, as well as Peruvian expatriate communities in Paris, London, Amsterdam and New York. Anécdotas sobre Fidel, directed by Estela Bravo, interviews international luminaries, as well as top members of the government and military about their experiences with Fidel Castro. In Crítico by Brazilian Kleber Mendonça, 70 critics and filmmakers discuss the conflict between the artist and the observer. Diary of the End, directed by Juan Alejandro Ramirez, is a visceral account filled with brutally honest, yet liberating confessions of a Peruvian woman.HFFNY 2010 closes on Friday April 23rd at the New York Directors Guild Theatre with the special presentation of award-winning Uruguayan film, Gigante at 5 pm. The Closing Night Ceremony and Awards Presentation begins at 7 pm followed by the U.S. premiere of Eso que Anda, an entertaining documentary by Ian Padrón follows the band Los Van Van on their most recent tour in Cuba, attended by more than 1 million people. Director Ian Padron will be attending. The Closing Night party will be at LQ.SPECIAL GUESTS OF THE FESTIVALReturning after several years of absence is the Cuban delegation:Enrique Pineda Barnet - Director, La Anunciación Silvia Aguila - Actress, Los Dioses Rotos Hector Noas - Actor, Los Dioses Rotos Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti - Directors, El Premio Flaco Ian Padron - Director, Eso Que Anda / Van Van Fever Susana Molina - Vice President, ICAIC Rosa Maria Molina - Director of International Relations, ICAICOther guests include: Leon Gieco - Director, Mundo Alas, Argentina Diego Vasquez - Actor/Writer, La Pasión de Gabriel, Colombia Albert Xavier - Director, Hermafrodita, Dominican Republic Rafi Mercado - Director, Miente, Puerto Rico Miguel Coyula - Director, Memories of Overdevelopment, U.S.-Cuba Carlos Enderle - Director, Crónicas Chilangas, Mexico Alejandra Villasmil - Artistic Director, Huacho, Chile Efterpi Charalambidis - Director, Libertador Morales, Venezuela Ernesto Cabellos - Director, De Ollas y Sueños, Peru Mariano Llinás - Director, Historias Extraordinarias, Argentina Ignacio Rey - Producer, La Tigra, Chaco, Argentina Ray Figueroa - Director, La Bodega, Guatemala Estela Bravo - Director, Anecdotes about Fidel, Cuba Alfredo Calvino - CEO, Latino Fusion Maria Marta Antin - Universidad del Cine, Buenos Aires Talent Campus Pablo Medina - Director, El Play, U.S-Dominican Republic Alejandro Lora - Director, Homo Erectus, Cuba Israel Rodirguez - Director, The Extraordinary Life of Fernando Bujones, U.S Ivy Goulart - Director, Beyond the Light, BrazilThe presenting sponsor of HFFNY 2010 is NBC 4 / Telemundo 47. Additional sponsorship is provided by El Diario La Prensa, The National Arts Club, WBAI, TD Bank, Latino Artists Round Table (LART), NY Remezcla, Xael Charters, U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Mexicana Airlines, LICP Graphics, Cine Latino en NY, NALIP, Havana-Cultura.com, Marazul Charters, Rockamedia, Copacabana Pizza & Grill, Giovanna's, Bardolino, Il Buco, and Brazil Brazil. Official hotel sponsors are the Maritime Hotel, the Bowery Hotel, and the Gershwin Hotel.HFFNY is made possible with public funds from the NYS Council on the Arts, a state agency and supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Mayor Bloomberg's Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC) supports the festival. HFFNY is included in New York City's Immigrant Heritage Week celebration.The Havana Film Festival New York is a project of American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba (AFLFC), a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization building cultural bridges between the U.S. and Cuba through programs in the arts.For a complete schedule of events and venues, please log on to www.hffny.com/2010

Havana Film Festival 2010. Estela Bravo is an American documentary filmmaker who for the past forty years has divided her time between Latin America and the United States. Her 30 award-winning films have spotlighted events throughout Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S., winning her a worldwide reputation.

The work of Estela Bravo has been aired on PBS (US), CBC (Canada), Channel 4 (UK), RAI (Italy), Canal Plus (France), ABC (Australia), as well as in Latin America. Her films have been reviewed in The New York Times, The Daily News, The Miami Herald, The Guardian, The Economist, Le Monde Diplomatique, and Spain's El Pais among others. Retrospectives of Bravo's films have been mounted in Madris, London, New York and Istanbul. Her body of work is considered in the books Estela Bravo; Tal Como Es (1992) and Estela Bravo; Witness of her Times (Istanbul, 2003).

Miami-Havana (1992), a moving exploration of divided Cuban familes, appeared as part of the Point of View series on PBS. The Cuban Excludables made with the Canadian Broadcasting Company, received the 1997 One World Award from the European Community, BBC and UNICEF as the best overseas production on British Television. Her 2001 film Fidel, was selected for the Toronto Film Festival and recieved an award in New York's Urbanworld Film Festival for "((Distinguished Achievement for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking))." Bravo's latest filmWho Am I? The Found Children of Argentina (2007), recieved the Coral Award for Best Documentary at the Havana Latin American film festival, the Toronto Hispanic Film Festival and the Rio De Janiero Film Festival, as well as the Telesur Award.

Bravo's life-long commitment to preserving collective memory while pursuing a more humane future pervades all of her work, and her uncanny ability to gain access where others have not has earned her a singular standing in the world of documentary film.

Tom Tancredo - telling it like it is. I have lost three friends of my family in the past several weeks all due to Border insecurity. I have lived and worked within .25 miles of our Southern border in Southern California, I have seen first hand that Tom is speaking the truth! Don't believe go look for yourself, if the US/Mexico border is too far for you to visit then see for yourselves at sites li

The body of Rancher Rob Krentz and his dog were found shot to death on his ranch. Krentz, who always was good-natured and willing to help people, had called in that he had found an illegal alien at one of his watering holes and was assisting him. That was the last that was heard from him before his body was discovered.

The Krentz family has received numerous threats in the past by illegal aliens trespassing on their property. In 2002, the family was physically threatened when one of them stumbled upon a group of 39 illegal aliens. They were told to get off the land and they made threats.

"We figured it up over the last five years and it’s cost us over $8 million," Krentz said. "Cattle don’t like people walking through, so they move. So, cattle weight loss, destruction of fences, breaking our pipelines, they break them in two and (the pipes) run for two or three days before we find it."

Bronx, NY– Tomorrow march 31, 2010, Governor David A. Paterson will speak at “Bronx United for a Better Count” and urge Bronx residents — and all New Yorkers — to be counted in the easiest and safest census ever. Joined by Secretary of State Lorraine A. Cortés-Vázquez, the governor will fill out his 2010 Census form live and remind New Yorkers how important it is to have a full and accurate count.

Bronx is currently one of the counties in New York State with the lowest mail participation rates: 36% (Bronx) versus 45% (NY State) versus 50% (National). This event aims to draw attention to and boost those local figures.

Locate a Be Counted Site near you, where you can pick up a 2010 Census form if you did not receive one by mail

Locate a Questionnaire Assistance Center near you, where you can receive help completing your form in designated languages

Track your town / neighborhood’s daily progress in mailing back the 2010 Census on by selecting “View Participation Rates”

Embed the daily Participation rate tracker widget on your website by selecting: “Track participation rate” once you have selected your location of interest.

About the 2010 Census

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to be conducted every 10 years. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states; to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state, and tribal governments each year; and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form will be one of the shortest in U.S. history and consists of just 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.

2010 CENSUS TIMELINE OF OPERATIONS

March 2010 – December 2010

March 8-10: Advance letters are mailed to most homes.

March 15-17: Mailing of 2010 Census form to most homes.

March 19 – April 19: Opening of Be Counted Sites / Questionnaire Assistance Centers in select neighborhood locations to provide extra forms and help to those who need it, as well as the nationwide Telephone Assistance Center.

Newark, NJ - March 30, 2010 -Mayor Cory A. Booker and Director of Neighborhood and Recreational Services Melvin L. Waldrop announced today that the City of Newark is partnering with the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation and Horizon NJ Health to host the inaugural Fitness Challenge Championship for City youth aged 10-13, on Saturday, April 10, at Nat Turner Park, starting at 10 a.m. The event isFREEand open to the public. Nat Turner Park is located at Boyd Street and Muhammad Ali Avenue, in the City’s Central Ward. The rain date is Saturday, April 17.

Each Recreation Center will field a co-ed team of eight members, which will consist of four boys and four girls. The co-ed team has trained every Wednesday since February 3 in a variety of activities to demonstrate their endurance, physical strength and agility.

“The Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs has launched numerous initiatives and partnerships to provide our youth with programs and competitions that enable them to manifest their personal excellence and develop the physical strength and mental discipline they need to lead productive lives. I urge all Newark residents to cheer on our City’s youngest and newest stars at Nat Turner Park on April 10,” said Mayor Booker.

In addition to the mental and physical challenges, there will be music, health screenings, and face-painting for kids at the park. Prizes will go to the Recreation Center that draws the highest number of supporting fans.

“This challenge engages and empower youth from across the City in a fitness challenge that will strengthen their minds and bodies,” said Director Waldrop. “I congratulate our entire Recreation team, the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation, and Horizon NJ Health for supporting this program.”

Teams finishing first through third will receive trophies, as well their individual members. All participants on teams finishing fourth through sixth will receive medals. The “Horizon Sun Award” will be given to the participant who earns the most points for their team. All participants will also receive a souvenir t-shirt, water bottle, headband, and nylon string bag.

“This is an exciting opportunity and we are proud to be a part of a program that challenges young people to become more active and involved,” said Karen L. Clark, President and Chief Operating Officer for Horizon NJ Health. “They have an excellent role model in Mrs. Clark Diggs and will be involved in activities and competitions that can motivate, involve, teach and, hopefully, inspire them to see that their lives can be improved with a healthier lifestyle. These kids will not only finish strong in body and spirit - they will be better for the experience.”

The Fitness Challenge is an easily administered program in which boys and girls compete together in a series of physical fitness and mental strength events. ThisFree exciting new program provides boys and girls, 10 years of age to 13 years of age, the opportunity to compete in a program designed to challenge their fitness and academic skill sets in a fun and competitive environment. The Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation and Horizon NJ Health are excited about this new program and the fitness/academic skill sets that the children will develop through their involvement in this initiative.

“This is my fourth year of doing programs in Newark, and we are excited with this new partnership, which will enable us to present the Fitness Challenge to Newark youth. I know the importance of having a fit body and mind, and this program will focus on those areas. We’ve done more than 40 free programs in Newark and we’ve had some very successful events here, like our first Track and Field Camp last year, and it’s always exciting to see Newark youth get involved and active at our events,” said Mrs. Clark Diggs.

Recreation has been a major priority for the Booker administration. Since 2006, each of the City’s recreation centers has had a comprehensive rehabilitation. After millions of dollars of capital investment, every city Recreation facility and pool has been successfully upgraded and is now open for expanded programs and community use. In addition, City programming at recreation centers has been thoroughly enriched.

For more information on The Joetta Clark Diggs’ Fitness Challenge, contact the Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs, Tia D. Montigue, at(973) 733-5483 or visit their website:www.joettasportsandbeyond.comFor information about any City of Newark program or policy, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at(973) 733-4311.

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh gave America reason for hope recently, when he made a public pledge to move to Costa Rica if health care reform were to pass through Congress.

What's most ironic about Limbaugh's pledge is not just the fact that millions of Americans would love to see Limbaugh leave the country, but that Costa Rica has a far more socialized health care system than we haMore..ve here in the United States. Not only does the country provide universal health care coverage for its citizens, but the country has a strong public option. The system also works quite well, as Costa Rica has a life expectancy second to only Canada in the Western Hemisphere. The country's health program was rated "excellent" by a study in the American Journal of Public Health.

So, Limbaugh inadvertently did his liberal enemies a huge favor by drawing attention to the country whose socialist health care system he admires. Limbaugh, one of the right wing talking heads who constantly rants about Obama's alleged socialist plot to take over the world, has (surprise) put his foot in his mouth.

Of course, once health care reform passed through the House of Representatives, Limbaugh started back pedaling. If it seems as though he's being a hypocrite for running away from his previous pledge, the answer is "yes." Limbaugh, the man who once argued that drug addicts should go to prison, is himself a recovering drug addict. But Limbaugh fully understands that he is a clown-like public figure only meant for entertainment. It is our fault for actually taking him seriously.

The facebook club "Help Rush Limbaugh Remember To Leave The Country" has over 108,000 members

New York, 28 March 2010. The Havana Film Festival New York (HFFNY) launches its second decade, April 16-23, with a program of award-winning films, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with noted international filmmakers, actors and producers. Special events are scheduled for April 7th at El Museo del Barrio and April 9th at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Over 40 highly anticipated and influential films from and about Latin America, the Caribbean and Latinos in the U.S. will be screened.

A variety of genres and themes from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, U.S. and Uruguay, ranging from comedy, thrillers, drama, film noir and children’s tales, as well as films and documentaries about the influence of music and dance are all part of this year’s Festival.

On April 16th, HFFNY opens with the New York premiere of the Brazilian film, Veronica, 1 pm at the Quad Cinema, the Festival’s primary screening venue. The Opening Night Ceremony and Screening takes place at the New York Directors Guild Theatre, 110 West 57th Street, at 7 pm with the New York premiere of Los Dioses Rotos, the box office sensation and award-winning film by Cuban director Ernesto Daranas. Actress Silvia Aguila will present the film.

Since its inception, HFFNY has recognized and celebrated some of the most illustrious Latin American filmmakers in the industry. Continuing this tradition, HFFNY 2010 honors renowned Cuban writer, director, poet, actor and dramatist Enrique Pineda Barnet, who has given the public more than 4 decades of unforgettable cinema. HFFNY pays him tribute with screenings of Cosmorama, considered the precursor to the contemporary video art movement, and today is part of the permanent collection at the Centro Reina Sofia de España (Queen Sofia of Spain Center); La Bella de la Alhambra, Best Picture winner of the prestigious Goya award; and La Anunciación, his most recent film about the reunion of state-side Cubans and their families.

As the festival enters its second decade, HFFNY established the Havana Star Prize to recognize the work of outstanding filmmakers in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. The first Havana Star prizes will be awarded at the Closing Night Ceremony on April 23rd at 7 pm at the New York Directors Guild Theatre. Internationally renowned Cuban artist, Yoan Capote, designed the Havana Star Prize especially for HFFNY.

The fifteen films competing for the first Havana Star Prize are:

* Los Dioses Rotos (Broken Gods) – a love triangle within the modern day Cuban underworld recalls the life of famous politician and pimp Alberto Yarini. Director Ernesto Daranas, Cuba * Dawson Isla 10 (Dawson Island) – the harrowing ordeal of deposed President Allende’s cabinet after the 1973 coup who are determined to survive political imprisonment. Director Miguel Littin, Chile * La Pasión de Gabriel (Gabriel’s Passion) – a young priest, caught in the middle of a civil war he doesn’t understand, struggles with his love for the church and a young lady. Director Luis Alberto Restrepo, Colombia * Hermafrodita - a touching story about a young girl’s struggle in the 60’s to keep her dual sexuality a secret. Director Albert Xavier, Dominican Republic * La Bodega (The Warehouse) – a young man and his best friend seek to avenge his sister’s brutal assault. Director Ray Figueroa, Guatemala * Huacho – a beautifully conceived story about the struggles of a peasant family in Chile. Winner of the Opera Prima prize at the Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana (New Latin American Cinema of Havana). Director Alejandro Fernandez, Chile * La Tigra, Chaco - a sweet and touching story of a young man who, while visiting his father, finds love with an old childhood friend. Directors Federico Godfrid and Juan Sasiaín, Argentina * Memories of Overdevelopment – the long-awaited sequel to Tomás Gutierrez Alea’s classic Memorias del Subdesarrollo (Memories of Underdevelopment). Director Miguel Coyula, Cuba * Miente (Lie) – an edgy, visually stunning psychological thriller told through the eyes of a young artist. Director Rafi Mercado, Puerto Rico * Castro – based on a Samuel Beckett novel, a woman searches for her wayward husband with the help of three hapless men. Director Alejo Moguillansky, Argentina * Veronica – the story of an elementary school teacher who while escorting one of her students home, discovers his slain parents and they are forced to go on the run to try to save themselves. Director Mauricio Farias, Brazil * El Premio Flaco (The “Booby” Prize) – a comedy about how to laugh at despair when a woman is lifted out of poverty after winning a lottery. Directors Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti, Cuba * Crónicas Chilangas (Chilango Chronicles) – the intersecting lives of three people in Mexico City – an honest retired teacher, a young man who believes in extraterrestrials and a woman addicted to porn. Director Carlos Enderle, Mexico * Libertador Morales, El Justiciero – an honest motorcycle-taxi driver and law-abiding citizen, Libertador Morales becomes El Justiciero, an avenging hero who foils the crime spree of a local Caracas street gang. Director Efterpi Charalambidis, Venezuela * Historias Extraordinarias (Extraordinary Stories) – a visually stunning and award-winning film that weaves together three separate and seemingly unconnected stories. Director Mariano Llinas, Argentina

HFFNY is made possible with public funds from the NYS Council on the Arts, a state agency and supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Mayor Bloomberg’s Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC) supports the festival. HFFNY is included in New York City’s Immigrant Heritage Week celebration.

The Havana Film Festival New York is a project of American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba (AFLFC), a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization building cultural bridges between the U.S. and Cuba through programs in the arts.

For a complete schedule of events and venues, please log on to www.hffny.com/2010Source: http://newsblaze.com/story/20100327161827zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Mar 27, 2010. A US report claims that OJ Simpson has a prison fan group of gay and trans prisoners who give him massages and treat him like royalty.

Simpson, jailed in 2008 for multiple charges including armed robbery, is said to be known as "the king of the queens".

Tabloid newspaper The National Enquirer reports that the former football player's time at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada is being made more pleasant by the group.

It reported a source as saying: "With the help of adoring prisoners and guards, OJ is able to gamble on sporting events, get special privileges – and even receive massages from a group of gay inmates known as 'The Girls'. He’s really tight with The Girls."

The source is claimed to have added: "OJ knows how to take care of The Girls."

Simpson is expected to serve at least another eight years in prison.

In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goodman.

Ms Brown Simpson's family successfully sued him in a civil court for $33.5 million for her and Mr Goodman's deaths.

When: Friday, April 2, 2010 at 8:30 PM . Marianni Ebert is one of the top performers of Brazilian music in New York City over the last fifteen years. An accomplished dancer, actor, and composer, Marianni has been thrilling audiences in New York and around the world with her enchanting renditions of a broad array of Brazilian Rhythms and Sounds. Marianni has been holding court in Zinc Bar and at the iconic Café Wha in the Village. Born in Rio and influenced by the songs of her father and the sensations of the sea and the sun, Marianni toured the entire country of Brazil, and was thereby exposed to the richest and greatest variety of Brazilian rhythms and melody. All this music came with her when she moved to New York in 1994, and has since intertwined with new influences in the thriving New York City World Music culture. This concert in the greatest music venue in the world, Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall, affords Marianni and her audience a rare opportunity to experience the Rhythms And Sounds of Brazil in an atmosphere like no other.